The Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room
The Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room (富井家住宅新座敷) is a reception wing of the late Edo period (between 1830 and 1867) in Kachu, Tadotsu-cho, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 18, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof, 30 square metres in building area, of the late Edo period; registration number 37-0310.
One of the four buildings of the Tomii Family Residence, it lies southwest of the Main House. The name shinzashiki, "new Zashiki", suggests a guest room added as a separate building, though no record of why or exactly when it was built was found.
How It Is Built
It measures 2 ken by 2 ken and is a single-storey timber building with a gabled hongawara tile roof, with a lean-to projecting 1 ken deep on the east side. A covered corridor connects it to the Main House (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
With a building area of 30 square metres, it is roughly a quarter the size of the Main House.
Why It Was Registered
It was registered as contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency points out that, although part of a samurai dwelling, it was placed near the street without any gate or wall, an unusual arrangement, and values it as part of the house's street front.
The worth of the Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room lies less in its size than in its position, which shows how this samurai house addressed the street. Seen together with the Gate, it gives the residence its public face.
What to Look For
The Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room stands close to the street with no gate or wall in front of it. Walk any samurai quarter and what faces the road is usually a wall or a gate; a reception room presenting itself directly to the street is unusual. Seen from the road, this is the building that, along with the Gate, makes the first impression.
It is a small single-storey block, 2 ken square, with a gabled hongawara roof and a lean-to projecting 1 ken on the east. A covered corridor links it to the Main House, so although it stands apart, it worked as part of the main residence.
Visiting
The Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room is part of a private home, and as of October 2026 no interior visits are announced. Since it stands right by the road, its exterior should be visible from the street (a judgement based on the Agency's description of the layout).
Because it sits at the roadside, keep clear of traffic when you stop to look, and do not peer through the windows.
Q&A
- Where is the Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room?
- Within the Tomii Family Residence at 8-6 Kachu, Tadotsu-cho, Kagawa, southwest of the Main House and close to the street.
- Can you see the Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room from outside?
- It stands near the road with no gate or wall, so the exterior should be visible from the street. The interior is part of a private home and is not open.
- What kind of building is the Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room?
- A single-storey timber building of the late Edo period, 2 ken by 2 ken, with a gabled hongawara roof and a 1 ken lean-to on the east, linked to the Main House by a corridor (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Why was the Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room registered?
- Because, unusually for a samurai house, it stands by the road without a gate or wall and forms part of the house's street front (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room registered?
- On October 18, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room (富井家住宅新座敷) |
|---|---|
| Location | 8-6 Kachu, Tadotsu-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2006/10/18 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2 ken by 2 ken; building area 30 square metres |
| Owner | Private owner (per Tadotsu Town) |
| Public Access | Private home; no interior access announced |
References
- Tomii Family Residence New Reception Room (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005924
- List of cultural properties in Tadotsu (Tadotsu Town, Japanese)
- https://www.town.tadotsu.kagawa.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kyoikuiinkaijimukyokusyougaigakusyuka/shakaikyoiku/2/565.html
- Descriptions of cultural properties in Tadotsu (Tadotsu Town, Japanese)
- https://www.town.tadotsu.kagawa.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kyoikuiinkaijimukyokusyougaigakusyuka/shakaikyoiku/2/563.html
Last verified: 2026.10.20
